Canucks News

Travis Green named coach of Utica Comets

NEW YORK/VANCOUVER – Vancouver Canucks President & General Manager Michael D. Gillis announced today that the Canucks have named Travis Green Head Coach of the Utica Comets; the Canucks AHL affiliate.

“We are very pleased to have Travis Green join our organization,” said Gillis. “Travis brings a wealth of hockey knowledge and a winning pedigree to the role. His experience as a player and immediate success as a Head Coach, guiding Portland to a WHL Championship this past year, are tremendous assets to lead and develop our players and prospects in Utica.”

Green, 42, most recently served as the Assistant General Manager and interim Head Coach of the 2012.13 WHL champion and Memorial Cup runner-up Portland Winterhawks. As head coach, he helped Portland to a record of 37-8-2 in the regular season, earning the Scotty Munroe Trophy as the WHL’s top regular season team. He led the Winterhawks to a Western Conference Championship and President’s Cup (WHL champions) in the postseason before falling in the final game of the Memorial Cup Championship to the Halifax Mooseheads.

Prior to serving as interim Head Coach, Green served as Assistant Coach and Assistant General Manager for the Winterhawks from October 28, 2008 through 2012.13. As Assistant Coach, Green helped the Winterhawks to a record of 160-99-8-7 and three consecutive league finals appearances, making the playoffs all but one season behind the bench.

Prior to joining the Winterhawks coaching staff, the Castlegar, BC, native played 14 seasons in the NHL before playing his last year of professional hockey with EV Zug in Switzerland. In 970 career games with the New York Islanders, Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, he collected 455 points (193-262-455) and 764 penalty minutes.

The former centreman was originally selected by the New York Islanders in the second round, 23rd overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.